Victorian Novel Wraps Up Successful Second Life Book Tour

New York, NY (PRWEB) February 20, 2008 -- It is not often that an historical fiction author gets to interact with her book's settings. For that reason, the Second Life engagement for author Deanna Raybourn's Silent in the Sanctuary (http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=16311) novel was truly special: Raybourn, and thousands of her book's fans, spent over a month touring a virtual recreation of Bellmont Abbey, a key location from her latest historical mystery release.

Raybourn's encounters at Bellmont Abbey took place in the virtual world of Second Life, where the author held a series of book-themed events over the past month. Thousands of Raybourn's fans met with her at in-world events ranging from author question-and-answer meet-and-greet sessions, to a Victorian Ball, to author-led workshops about the writing process.

With cumulative attendance in the thousands, the Second Life promotional program for Raybourn's book was a resounding social networking success. The author herself proclaimed, "Most authors will never get to see their creations brought to life in any format, and I got to wander around the Abbey for a month," while interacting in various ways with Second Life residents from throughout the world. Visitors who weren't able to catch the engagement in Second Life can also see a Silent in the Sanctuary video recap (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPIqn-3Matw) at YouTube.

The publisher of the novel, MIRA Books, commissioned the Second Life promotion so that readers could use the burgeoning social network to get closer to this popular novelist through the 3D rendition of the book's setting and at author-led events. Moreover, the very reach of Second Life afforded some readers who might otherwise never be able to hear the author speak in person a bona fide chance to do so.

Since the release of 'Silent in the Grave (http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=16132&cid=701) in early 2007, author Raybourn has received critical acclaim and widespread reader excitement for her captivating writing style and for her mixture of Victorian mystery and romance. This latest release builds further on these strong themes, as her main character, Lady Julia Grey, is thrust into situations of romance, murder mystery, and intrigue.

Second Life marketing agency (http://www.theslagency.com) TheSLAgency handled all of the technical and marketing aspects of the program, including re-creating several key creative features of the book's setting and plot items.

About MIRA Books:

MIRA Books? is Harlequin Enterprises' mainstream women's fiction imprint. Featuring a lineup of some of the bestselling authors across North America, MIRA Books is committed to publishing the very best in commercial fiction, from historical and contemporary romance to suspense and psychological thrillers. In 2006, 38 MIRA Books titles placed on bestseller lists (New York Times, USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly). MIRA Books currently publishes more than 100 books per year in hardcover, mass-market and trade paperback formats. Please see the MIRA Books Web site at www.MIRABooks.com for more information.

About Harlequin Enterprises Limited:

Harlequin Enterprises Limited is the global leader in series romance and one of the world's leading publishers of women's fiction, with titles issued worldwide in 26 languages and sold in 109 international markets. The company produces 120 titles monthly and publishes more than 1,300 authors from around the world. Harlequin Enterprises Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation, a broadly based media company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TS.B). Harlequin's Web site is located at www.eHarlequin.com. Harlequin has offices in 18 countries, including offices in Toronto, New York and London. For more information please visit www.eHarlequin.com or press.eHarlequin.com.

About TheSLAgency:

Backed by Moderne Promotions, the nation's most effective nightlife and event marketing firm (http://www.modernepromotions.com), TheSLAgency is an interactive marketing agency that creates unique integrated marketing experiences in virtual worlds and in the real world. TheSLAgency builds real relationships between consumers and brands, by combining real world events with virtual world experiences. These fully integrated brand experiences are the key to creating lasting impressions and relationships with discerning consumers of the 21st century.

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